GAME NOTES: The second-ranked Florida State Seminoles seek regular-season
perfection as they take on the Florida Gators in a Sunshine State Showdown at
the Swamp this weekend.

Jimbo Fisher's Seminoles have navigated their 2013 schedule unscathed to this
point at 11-0 and have steam-rolled the competition for the most part. FSU
kept that theme going last weekend in a record-setting performance against
Idaho in an 80-14 romp. Florida State has already secured a spot in the Dec. 7
ACC Championship Game in Charlotte and with two more wins will secure much
more, one of the two coveted spots in the BCS Championship Game in Pasadena on
Jan. 6.

Standing in the Seminoles' way this week is a Florida team in desperate need
of a statement victory to not only send the Gators into the offseason on a
high note, but to also quiet a growing sentiment that head coach Will
Muschamp's time in Gainesville is coming to an end. At 4-7 overall and just
3-5 in the SEC, Florida has languished this year in mediocrity. Things may
have hit rock-bottom last week with a stunning 26-20 loss to FCS foe Georgia
Southern, the latest of six straight setbacks for the Gators.

Despite Florida losing to an FCS foe last week, Fisher is quick to point out
that it won't change how FSU prepares for this rivalry.

"It's about us. We need to go play well. That's all we can control. I say
that, that's all we can control is how we prepare and how we play and that's
got to be our focus."

This marks the 58th all-time meeting between these two state rivals. Florida
holds a 35-21-2 series advantage and is 20-9-1 in games played in Gainesville.

The offensive numbers are impressive for FSU this season with the team ranking
second nationally in scoring (55.2 ppg) and sixth in total offense (532.5
ypg). With a talented offensive depth chart, slowing down the 'Noles has
proved impossible. An offensive line chock-full of All-American talent
throughout can certainly take a lot of the credit.

Despite a cloud looming over redshirt freshman Jameis Winston's future -- in
the hear and now -- there isn't anyone in the country playing the quarterback
position better.

Winston is on the short list of Heisman contenders, having completed just
under 70 percent of his passes on the year, for 3,163 yards, with 32
touchdowns against seven interceptions.

FSU is the only team in the country that ranks in the top five nationally in
both scoring offense and scoring defense. The Seminoles are second in the
nation in both scoring defense (11.4 ppg) and pass defense (156.5 ypg) and
fifth in total defense (278.1 ypg). Big plays are the norm in Tallahassee this
year, with 30 sacks and 29 takeaways, including an FBS best 23 interceptions.

Keeping quarterbacks vertical has been quite the challenge in Gainesville this
season. The team lost Jeff Driskel early on, and then recently lost Trent
Murphy. That leaves the signal calling duties to redshirt freshman Skyler
Mornhinweg, who hasn't exactly flourished in the last two games. He has
completed 63.2 percent of his passes, but has only thrown for 229 yards and
two scores.

Compounding the problem for the Florida offense is a lack of game-changers at
the skill positions. No one has stood up to carry the offensive load, whether
it be in the backfield or on the outside. Florida ranks an unbelievable 110th
nationally in scoring (19.9 ppg), doing so on a mere 327.9 yards per game
(111th nationally).

"Sometimes in a year like this, when you're in this kind of situation, you've
got to do the best you can and continue to grow and get better and understand
what you can't do," Pease said. "The thing you never want to do is look into a
finger-pointing situation, and I don't look at it that way. I still always
look at it as we're a staff, we're a team. If it's coming my way, then it's
coming my way. You've just got to kind of take the blows."

Although it hasn't really helped in the win/loss column, Florida's defensive
numbers tell a much different tale. The Gators rank 16th nationally in scoring
defense (19.6 ppg), third in pass defense (157.7 ypg) and seventh in total
defense (301.4 ypg).

The real problem has been a lack of big plays, with UF only recording 17 sacks
and 17 takeaways on the year. Junior linebacker Mike Taylor paces the squad in
total tackles (62) and fumble recoveries (3). Sophomore Dante Fowler Jr. (47
tackles, 10.5 TFL, 3.5 sacks) and junior Robert Powell (24 tackles, 7.0 TFL,
4.0 sacks) are the most active defenders up the field. Pro prospect Loucheiz
Purifoy (2 tackles, two sacks, one INT) has had a quiet season in the UF
secondary.

The Seminoles boast of their longest win streak (14 games) since 1999. That
streak isn't in danger of ending this weekend, as there may not be much fight
left in the Gators.